IK Start v Drogheda Utd Kristiansand Stadium Kick-off: 6pm (Irish time)Instead of preparing to travel to play Bray Wanderers at a venue dubbed the Field of Dreams tomorrow night, Tony Grant says he's had to pinch himself following his move to Drogheda United, which sees him walking out to play in Europe here in Kristiansand this evening.
Disillusioned at Bohemians' underachievement in the first half of the season, striker Grant had no hesitation in joining Drogheda when Paul Doolin came in for him during the July transfer window.
"It's great to be part of this," said Grant, who turns 30 later this month. "I was delighted to get the move and it was terrific to come straight in and be involved in a Uefa Cup match. I had to pinch myself, really."
Grant settled in immediately, setting up Shane Robinson for Drogheda's lead goal in the first qualifying round first leg at HJK Helsinki last month.
"It feels like a new lease of life for my career. Things weren't going too well at Bohs and now I'm at a club that I feel is going places," said Grant, who has scored in Europe with Glenavon and Shamrock Rovers.
Grant brings further experience to the squad, which includes fit-again winger James Keddy, for whom Drogheda is the fourth club with which he has played in European competition.
"Experience is a great asset to have in any walk of life," said manager Doolin. "We had a couple of younger lads on the bench in the last tie, but, with the exception of Declan O'Brien, everyone is a available for this match. We have a good, strong starting 11 and a good, strong bench.
"When you have experienced players there it means you don't really have to say too much, whereas with young, less experienced players you are always conscious of keeping an eye on them."
Though Start, who have three players in the Norway squad for next week's friendly with Brazil, will pose a much sterner test than HJK Helsinki, Doolin says his tactical approach, while likely to be different, will be a positive one.
"We'll take the game on its merits," said Doolin. "I've never, ever sent a team out to play for a draw, even when I was at UCD.
"I think we do have to be cautious, though we will see how the game goes. We will certainly attack them. We train for that and are geared for that," added Doolin, who waits on Shane Robinson in the hope the winger, who scored in Helsinki, can shake off an ankle knock sustained in the defeat to Shelbourne last Friday.
Start manager Stig Inge Bjornebye has done his homework on Drogheda.
"We had someone over to watch their game with Shelbourne and we have a tape of the Helsinki games, and Drogheda deserve to be respected," said former Liverpool defender Bjornebye."But we are at home and we would like to concentrate on our own game. Hopefully we can get our game to flow and play with pace and see how it goes."
